The colorful dream of Boa Mistura

Marian Gielen

BoaMistura has a dream: a better world where people feel connected, proud of their environment and believe in their own abilities. Their secret weapon? Paint. Pablo and Juan are the two friendly and energetic young men working with a team of eight creators on a colorful mission across the globe. Their shoes, pants and shirts are covered with paint splatters. Blue, yellow, green, orange, purple; all colors of the rainbow. It symbolizes the colorful street art images they create. Their Mediterranean appearance is in big contrast to the weather that has been sweeping Limburg in recent days; rain, rain and more rain. But even this extremely bad weather won’t distract them from their ultimate purpose: to let the sun shine in the hearts of the people of Aurora.

Working together
BoaMistura was founded in Madrid, 2001. The Street Art collective consists of a team of four experienced creators and four assistants from different expertises. Right now  they are in Heerlen, the Netherlands for about 6 months, invited by Wonen Limburg and Stichting Street Art to lift the 228-appartement Aurora Complex up with their art. Once completed it will be the largest mural in Europe. This huge task is tackled together with employees of Werk voor Heerlen and the residents of Aurora, as they collectively pick up the brush to execute the mural that the residents themselves inspired and chose two years ago. Participation, that's what it's all about for Boa Mistura.
 
Social character most important
Even though they seem to work everywhere across the globe, the collective is actually pretty selective about which projects they take on. “The project must add a social value to the community,” explains Juan, an added value BoaMistura determines by testing different layers. Firstly, the project must have a social character; participation of residents is a requirement. Secondly, artistic freedom is important to them. “The more freedom there is, the better for the project”. In addition, it is important that all partners involved are enthusiastic. And last but not least: they want to be able to train people during the process. Pablo: “We are so grateful that we can do something with our talents for society”. Learned skills and opportunities will help participants find new jobs.
 
People change positively
The social value of an art project is most important to BoaMistura. Painting together, that's what it's all about. A Street Art project in South Africa in 2011, where they made a mural together with the community, opened their eyes to these possibilities. Throughout the process they saw people blossom, gain confidence, strengthening the bond with each other through shared experiences. And although they inspired residents with art and working together, they were probably the most inspired themselves at that time. “We experienced what participation in art can do. People become more involved with each other and with their environment, they are proud to be part of something and it gives them a powerful feeling,” says Juan. This has become the central building block of BoaMistura's approach ever since. 
 
Part of the process
Juan and Pablo recall the example of an old, grumpy lady in Mexico who didn't like the whole Street Art project. At the very end of the process she spoke to BoaMistura to explain she was surprisingly impressed. “She gradually became part of the whole process, also seeing the people and the environment change positively. Art can really inspire people to do something, to believe in themselves or just to have a smile on a difficult day.”
 

There is no winter without summer, there is no light without darkness. Is the contrast of opposites that makes us aware of reality. Winter and summer, two antitheses that traditionally evoke life and lethargy. Spring sleeps during the winter months and, with its increasing warmth, makes us wake up and look at the horizon with optimism. We take this classic symbology as a starting point to select a powerful phrase. It reminds us that no matter how cold the darkness of winter, better times are always to come. We use a contemporary typography and a changing color palette to strengthen the concept within the verses of Khalil Gibran. Cold outside, warm inside.